Kruger & Victoria Falls: Self-Launched Safari & Falls Adventure
9 days · South Africa, Zimbabwe & Zambia
G Adventures charges £2,799
No-markup version: ~£1,290 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 9-day Kruger & Falls trip — same route, same wildlife, same waterfall, without the group-tour markup. You'll start in Johannesburg, drive the Panorama Route to a budget bush camp near Kruger, self-drive or join community-run open-vehicle safaris in Kruger National Park, then transfer to a Greater Kruger private reserve for Big Five game drives. Fly (or take the long overland route) to Victoria Falls, walk the falls trail yourself, and choose your own Zambezi adventures — rafting, sunset cruise, helicopter flip or bungee. Everything is bookable independently through SANParks, budget bush camps/lodges, local operators and GetYourGuide. Costs are approximate per person in GBP and assume shared hostel/guesthouse/budget-lodge rooms and self-catering where possible.
Day-by-day
Arrive Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Land at O.R. Tambo (JNB) and make your own way into the city — the Gautrain to Sandton or Rosebank costs around £7 and is far cheaper than a taxi. Check into a backpacker hostel in Maboneng or Melville. Spend the afternoon on a free walking tour of Maboneng's street art and coffee scene, or visit the Apartheid Museum (~£8) if you arrive early. Buy a local SIM (Vodacom/MTN, ~£5 for data) and pick up groceries for the drive tomorrow.
🚌Gautrain airport train to Sandton ~£7, then Gautrain bus/metro ~£1
🛏Backpacker hostel dorm in Maboneng or Melville (~£16/night)
- →Free Maboneng street art walk
- →Apartheid Museum (optional, ~£8)
- →SIM card and grocery run
Panorama Route drive to Kruger
Graskop / Hazyview
Pick up a small rental car (or book a shared shuttle, ~£30) and drive the legendary Panorama Route. Stop at God's Window, Bourke's Luck Potholes and the Blyde River Canyon viewpoints — all cheap national-park-style entry fees of £3-5 each. Continue to Hazyview or Graskop and check into a budget bush camp/backpackers just outside Kruger. Self-cater dinner or grab a braai pack from the local butcher.
🚌Rental car pickup ~£28/day incl. basic insurance; fuel ~£12
🛏Budget bush camp or backpackers near Hazyview (~£22/night)
- →God's Window (~£3)
- →Bourke's Luck Potholes (~£4)
- →Blyde River Canyon viewpoints (~£5)
Kruger National Park self-drive safari
Kruger National Park
Enter Kruger at the Phabeni or Numbi gate as soon as it opens (around 05:30-06:00 for best wildlife). Pay the conservation fee at the gate (foreign visitors ~£30/day) and self-drive the southern circuit — the S1, S3 and Sabie River loops are prime big-game territory. Alternatively, join a SANParks morning game drive from Skukuza rest camp (~£25) or a guided open-vehicle drive from Hazyview operators (~£45). Return to camp for a sundowner on the deck and a braai.
🚌Car fuel ~£14; SANParks entry ~£30
🛏Budget bush camp or backpackers near Hazyview (~£22/night)
- →Self-drive safari in Kruger
- →Optional SANParks open-vehicle drive (~£25)
- →Optional sunset drive
Village visit and transfer to private reserve
Greater Kruger private reserve
Visit the Manyeleti area or a community tourism project such as the Shalati village crafts co-op (small donation £5-10). Then drive west/south into the Greater Kruger buffer zone and check into a budget private-reserve lodge or tented camp — these run game drives in open 4x4s with local rangers. Afternoon game drive (~£35-45) then dinner in the boma.
🚌Self-drive transfer ~£18 fuel; reserve conservancy fee ~£8
🛏Tented camp / budget lodge in Greater Kruger (~£35/night, usually half-board)
- →Community village visit
- →Afternoon open-vehicle game drive
Big Five game drives
Greater Kruger private reserve
Early-morning game drive with coffee stops in the bush, then brunch back at camp. Rest through the heat of the day by the pool. Afternoon high tea, then a sunset drive chasing the Big Five — leopards and rhinos are often best in the private reserves since off-road driving is allowed. Sundowners on the vehicle included.
🚌No transfer needed — reserve vehicles
🛏Tented camp / budget lodge in Greater Kruger (~£35/night, half-board)
- →Morning game drive
- →Sunset game drive
- →Optional guided bush walk
Final drive and back to Johannesburg
Johannesburg
One last dawn game drive, then breakfast and the drive back to Johannesburg (~5 hours). Drop the hire car at OR Tambo or the city depot. Settle into a hostel in Melville and enjoy an Afrikaans dinner — bobotie or a boerewors roll — at a local spot like Melrose or 7th Street.
🚌Fuel for return drive ~£25; car returned
🛏Backpacker hostel dorm, Johannesburg (~£16/night)
- →Morning game drive
- →Afrikaans dinner in Melville
Fly to Victoria Falls and walk the falls
Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe
Fly JNB to Victoria Falls (VFA) — budget carriers like Fastjet or FlySafair often have one-way fares for £80-120 if booked early. Alternatively, take the overnight Intercape/bus route via Bulawayo (~£35, ~18 hours) if you want the slow-travel version. On arrival, cross to the Zimbabwe side and check into a backpacker lodge in Victoria Falls town. Buy your falls entry (~£24) and walk the rainforest trail yourself — the Main Falls, Devil's Cataract and Livingstone Island viewpoints are all signposted. Optionally add the bridge bungee (~£110) or a Zambezi sunset cruise (~£35).
🚌Flight JNB-VFA ~£95 (or overnight bus ~£35); airport transfer ~£8
🛏Backpacker lodge in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (~£20/night)
- →Victoria Falls rainforest walk with entry ~£24
- →Falls Bridge photo stop
- →Optional sunset cruise (~£35)
Zambezi adventure day
Victoria Falls / Livingstone
Book your own add-ons today — the falls town has dozens of operators. Popular picks: white-water rafting on the Zambezi (~£85), a Zambezi river safari in a small boat (~£45), a helicopter flip over the falls (~£130), or a day trip across the border to Livingstone, Zambia, to see the falls from the other side (UNIVISA ~£40 covers both countries). Use GetYourGuide/Klook or book direct with operators like Wild Horizons or Shearwater. Evening sundowners at the Lookout Café overlooking the gorge.
🚌Local shuttle/taxi to activity operators ~£8
🛏Backpacker lodge in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (~£20/night)
- →White-water rafting OR river safari OR helicopter flip
- →Optional Livingstone day trip
- →Lookout Café sundowners
Departure
Victoria Falls
Breakfast at the lodge, then transfer to Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) for your onward flight — book a shared shuttle (~£8) rather than a private transfer. If you're continuing overland, the Kazungula border crossing to Botswana (Kasane/Chobe) is a short taxi ride away and a great add-on for a self-launched safari extension.
🚌Shared airport shuttle ~£8
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Optional Chobe day extension (Kasane border ~£10 + park fees)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,290 | £2,799 |
| Duration | 9 days | 9 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,509 per person (54%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,290
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Kruger & Victoria Falls: Self-Launched Safari & Falls Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,290 per person for 9 days in South Africa, Zimbabwe & Zambia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £2,799 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,290 — a saving of roughly £1,509 (54%) per person.
How long is the South Africa, Zimbabwe & Zambia trip?+
This itinerary runs 9 days, covering 9 day-by-day stops through South Africa, Zimbabwe & Zambia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, wildlife, road-trip trip through South Africa, Zimbabwe & Zambia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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